Abstract: A weather radar with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio FMCW transmission beam that illuminates an area in the field of regard in elevation and may be electronically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and electronically form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as detection and tracking of objects, such as birds, aircraft, UAVs and the like.

Abstract: A radar system to detect and track objects in three dimensions. The radar system including antennae, transmit, receive and processing electronics is all in a small, lightweight, low-cost, highly integrated package. The radar system uses a wide azimuth, narrow elevation radar pattern to detect objects and a Wi-Fi radio to communicate to one or more receiving and display units. One application may include mounting the radar system in an existing radome on an aircraft to detect and avoid objects during ground operations. Objects may include other moving aircraft, ground vehicles, buildings or other structures that may be in the area. The system may transmit information to both pilot and ground crew.

Abstract: A radar apparatus with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmission beam that illuminates a large field of regard in elevation and may be both electronically and mechanically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar apparatus includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and digitally form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar apparatus may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as collision avoidance.

Abstract: In some examples, a system is configured to mount on an ownship vehicle and includes a phased-array radar device configured to transmit radar signals and receive returned radar signals. In some examples, the system also includes a surveillance transponder configured to receive surveillance signals from another vehicle. In some examples, the system further includes processing circuitry configured to detect an object based on the returned radar signals and determine a position of the other vehicle and a velocity vector of the other vehicle based on the received surveillance signals. In some examples, the system includes common signal and data processing circuitry that processes both data from the phased-array radar device and data from the surveillance transponder.

Abstract: A portable radar system that may leverage the processing power, input and/or display functionality in mobile computing devices. Some examples of mobile computing devices may include mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers and similar devices. The radar system of this disclosure may include a wired or wireless interface to communicate with the mobile computing device, or similar device that includes a display. The radar system may be configured with an open set of instructions for interacting with an application executing on the mobile computing device to accept control inputs as well as output signals that the application may interpret and display, such as target detection and tracking. The radar system may consume less power than other radar systems. The radar system of this disclosure may be used for a wide variety of applications by consumers, military, law enforcement and commercial use.

Abstract: A hazardous fire detection radar system that may be mounted on a vehicle, such as an aircraft to detect bullets, grenades and similar projectiles that may pose a danger to the vehicle. The system may observe a wide field-of-regard (FOR) and for each projectile, determine the range of closest approach to the host platform (miss distance) and an approximate direction of origin. The FMCW radar system measures range and Doppler information for targets within its FOR and resolves Doppler ambiguity by estimating angular information (azimuth and elevation) for each target projectile. The system may estimate angular information by using a monopulse antenna pattern with the radar receiver.

Abstract: A radar system to detect and track objects in three dimensions. The radar system including antennae, transmit, receive and processing electronics is all in a small, lightweight, low-cost, highly integrated package. The radar system uses a wide azimuth, narrow elevation radar pattern to detect objects and a Wi-Fi radio to communicate to one or more receiving and display units. One application may include mounting the radar system in an existing radome on an aircraft to detect and avoid objects during ground operations. Objects may include other moving aircraft, ground vehicles, buildings or other structures that may be in the area. The system may transmit information to both pilot and ground crew.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises: transmitting, from a RADAR system, a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) RADAR signal in an anechoic chamber; receiving the FMCW RADAR signal at a test antenna in the anechoic chamber; generating a mixing signal; generating a simulated RADAR return signal from the mixing signal and the received FMCW RADAR signal; radiating the simulated RADAR return signal; and receiving the simulated RADAR return signal.

Abstract: In some examples, a radar device is configured to detect an object, where the radar device includes transceiver circuitry configured to transmit radar signals having a first polarization type towards the object, receive radar signals having the first polarization type reflected from the object, and receive radar signals having a second polarization type reflected from the object, the second polarization type being different than the first polarization type. The radar device also includes processing circuitry configured to determine a material category of the object based on the radar signals having the first polarization type reflected from the object and the radar signals having the second polarization type reflected from the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to determine a range of a sling load from a vehicle. In one embodiment, an FMCW RADAR altimeter generates an altitude history image that is used to determine the range of the sling load from the vehicle and an altitude of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods for radar altimeter integrity monitoring are provided.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a weather radar device configured to transmit radar signals, receive first reflected radar signals at a first time, and receive second reflected radar signals at a second time. In some examples, the system also includes processing circuitry configured to determine a first magnitude of reflectivity based on the first reflected radar signals and determine a second magnitude of reflectivity based on the second reflected radar signals. In some examples, the processing circuitry is also configured to determine a temporal variance in reflectivity magnitudes based on determining a difference in reflectivity between the first magnitude and the second magnitude. In some examples, the processing circuitry is further configured to determine a presence of ice crystals based on the first magnitude of reflectivity, the second magnitude of reflectivity, and the temporal variance in reflectivity magnitudes.

Abstract: A method of improving height measurement resolution for a radar system is provided. The method includes periodically generating, at a FFT processor, a set of FFT bins across a frequency range based on a periodic ramping of a FMCW radar signal from a first frequency to a second frequency; selecting a subset of bins from at least one set of FFT bins by implementing a leading-edge-tracking algorithm by at least one processor; implementing a second algorithm on the selected subset of bins to determine a power ratio between the leading edge tracked bin and the remaining bins in the selected subset of bins to determine an interpolated bin number within the selected subset of bins; and determining an approximate distance to the target based on the interpolated bin number within the selected subset of bins. The sets of FFT bins are indicative of a respective plurality of distances.

Abstract: In some examples, a system is configured for determining an estimated altitude of a melting layer, and the system includes a weather radar device configured to transmit radar signals and receive reflected radar signals. In some examples, the system also includes processing circuitry configured to determine the estimated altitude of the melting layer based on the reflected radar signals.

Abstract: In some examples, a radar system includes phase-locked loop (PLL) circuitry configured to generate a control voltage signal and processing circuitry configured to generate a reference signal to drive the PLL circuitry to generate the control voltage signal. In some examples, the radar system also includes voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) circuitry configured to generate radio-frequency (RF) signals based on the control voltage signal and one or more antennas configured to transmit the RF signals and receive returned RF signals. In some examples, the radar system further includes receiver circuitry configured to generate intermediate-frequency (IF) signals based on the returned RF signals, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect an object based on the IF signals.

Abstract: A radar apparatus with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmission beam that illuminates a large field of regard in elevation and may be both electronically and mechanically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar apparatus includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and digitally form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar apparatus may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as collision avoidance.

Abstract: A portable radar system that may leverage the processing power, input and/or display functionality in mobile computing devices. Some examples of mobile computing devices may include mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers and similar devices. The radar system of this disclosure may include a wired or wireless interface to communicate with the mobile computing device, or similar device that includes a display. The radar system may be configured with an open set of instructions for interacting with an application executing on the mobile computing device to accept control inputs as well as output signals that the application may interpret and display, such as target detection and tracking. The radar system may consume less power than other radar systems. The radar system of this disclosure may be used for a wide variety of applications by consumers, military, law enforcement and commercial use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to determine a range of a sling load from a vehicle. In one embodiment, an FMCW RADAR altimeter generates an altitude history image that is used to determine the range of the sling load from the vehicle and an altitude of the vehicle.

Abstract: A weather radar with an integrated flat plate slotted array antenna system mounted to a motorized, gimbaled platform. The integrated antenna system includes a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) receiver/transmitter antenna integrated with other printed circuit board (PCB) layers. The PCB includes radar transmitter, receiver and processing circuits configured to communicate with weather radar display and controller units. A protective shield provides radio-frequency (RF) shielding and mechanical support for the integrated antenna system.

Abstract: A slot antenna with the low-cost, light weight features of an SIW antenna combined with the efficiency of a metallic antenna. The antenna of this disclosure may use printed circuit board manufacturing (PCB) processes to form the radiating portion to create slots and waveguide features with accurate dimensions and accurate positions. Like a metallic antenna, radio frequency (RF) energy passes through air in the radiating waveguides instead of a substrate, which means low insertion loss and high efficiency. Examples of the antenna of this disclosure may include a metallic coupling waveguide to carry the RF energy from the RF generating components of the radar system to the radiated branch waveguides. The metallic coupling waveguide may be configured to provide structural support to the PCB radiating portion as well as backwards compatibility to retrofit existing radar systems with the antenna assembly of this disclosure.